The body of a victim lies covered on the street in front of a car that plowed through a crowded farmers market in Santa Monica. (Damian Dovarganes / AP) Jul 16, 2003
Posted on 10/20/2006 11:53:34 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
The elderly driver who ran down and killed 10 people in an open air market in Santa Monica was convicted today of all criminal charges, decisively denying defense pleas for mercy.
The verdict leaves to a judge the task of deciding whether George Russell Weller, 89, goes to prison for as long as 18 years. Weller will appeal the decision, defense attorney Mark Overland said.
By their unanimous verdict, jurors rejected arguments that the aged driver made a mistake and found him guilty on 10 counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence for killing 10 people. He injured 68 others on July 16, 2003 when he drove at highway speeds through the popular Farmers' Market in Santa Monica.
There was no signs of emotion from the audience, which was mostly comprised of media.
The deadly drive in 2003 lasted less than 20 seconds. It was depicted in an animation played for jurors.
Prosecutors insisted Weller was criminally responsible and should be held accountable. They suggested that Weller was trying to run from a minor accident in which he was involved near the entrance to the market. His 1992 Buick busted through the wooden barricades at Arizona Avenue and killed an infant, a 3-year-old child, a married couple, a homeless man and an octogenarian among others.
Prosecutor Ann Ambrose, expecting to give birth to her second child next month, delivered an eloquent closing argument urging jurors to reject the idea that the violent death of 10 citizens was a simple accident.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The body of a victim lies covered on the street in front of a car that plowed through a crowded farmers market in Santa Monica. (Damian Dovarganes / AP) Jul 16, 2003
Why the heck did it take 3 years to hold a trial?
That bastard should fry for what he did.
Being 80+ adds about one second to your reaction time, not 19 seconds.
He was trying to get away from the scene of an accident he caused and he killed a little baby doing it.
Then he tries to squirm out of the consequences by pleading his age.
The scumbag's defense lawyers used every trick in the book, trying to run out the clock.
Ugly business. I guess I missed it when it happened.
This really did have national consequences...as a result, nationally when there are street fairs and farmers markets, K rails or planters are now places across the entrances...
Also, Santa Monica fire is going to have LA Fire Department dispatch their city, and may merge...as a result of the overwhelming resources to this incident, and subsequent DHS concerns.
I checked the date again. The reason I didn't hear about it is that I go into news hibernation during summer vacations, usually July and August. No TV, no newspapers, little or no computer.
Horrible story.
Sure. He murdered two kids.
Don't restrain yourself-- tell us how you REALLY feel.
Why would you jump to the conclusion that anyone is oblivious to the obvious heartache involved here? You don't have to wallow in the mud to be aware of the fact that it is dirty. The reason for not wallowing in it is because you already recognize that it does no one any good to do so.
I've got no insight into the mind of this man-- but on a very basic level you are responsible for your actions (or lack thereof) and deserve the punishment regardless of age.
3 years too late. Shoulda been doing time a lot sooner.
From age 65 on....road test annually or no license. Here in AZ they give people a license that is good for years and years, which is why old farts really like moving here. They can get a license when they arrive and not worry about so much as an eye test before they croak of old age or vehicle accident....hopefully without taking anyone else with them.
"I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grampa, not kicking and screaming like...."
"I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grampa,"
Unfortunatly around here in AZ old farts CAN die in their sleep while also being behind the wheel of thier car. LOL
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